Method of and means for cracking hydrocarbons in alpha metal bath



T. SEIFER i Sepp 12, 1933.

METHOD oF AND Ems Fon cRAoxING HYDBocARBoNs 1N A uETAL BATH Filed sept. 25, 192s' 4 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 12, 1933. l 'r SEH-'ER 1,926,563

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR GRACKING HYDROCARBONS IN A METAL BATH Filed Sept. 25, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. sElFER 1,926,563

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METHOD 0E AND MEANS FOR CRACKING HYDRocAHBoNs IN A METAL BATH AWF Sept. l2, 1933. T SEWER l. 1,926,563

METHOD OF AND-MEANS FOR CRACKING HYDROCARBONS IN A METAL BATH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 25. 1928 jfl/Balai? Patented sept. 12, 1933 METHOD or ANnMEANs Foa caacxiNG Y nYDRocARBoNs 1N .1 METAL BATH Y Theodor Seifer, Dusseldorf, Germany, assignor toPreussiche Gewerkshaft Raphael, Kalk, near Cologne-on-the-Rhine, tion of Germany Application September Germany, a corpora` z5, 192s, serial No.`

308,315, and in Germany September 30, 1927 5 Claims.

It is known to crack hydrocarbons in molten i metals or molten salts.

'I'he actions taking place in the molten substance require a constant temperature which must be possibly high, and uniform at all parts of the space inwwhich the processis being car-V ried out. Maintaining these 'conditions is, however, connected with great difficulties.

Now. according to the present invention a constant and uniform temperature can .be maintained by subdividing. the vessel containingthe molten substance into a heating space and fa` treating or reaction space, and by providing a circuit on or through. which the molten substance. can pass from the one space to the other, and so on'. The substance can be kept passing through said circuit by differences of temperature, as well` as by mechanical means. In the first of these cases the Vheating space mustV lie lower than the reaction space, whereas in the` other case the two spaces may lie above or below one another, or sideby side, or the one may concentrically surround the other.

If the compound to be treated isintroduced into the apparatus under a certain over-pressure and in that direction in which the molten mass is to pass through the circuit that over-pressure and 4the momentum it imparts to the mass can be used as propelling or conveying means, but it is also possible to make use of an additional propelling or conveying means, for instance of a compressed gas, which may be used either alone or together with said over-pressure. vThe tube 'or other member or means through which the compound to be treated is introduced into the molten mass j already present in the spaces or chambers` can be designed atgits end either as a simple injection nozzle or as a jet-apparatus.

If an auxiliary propelling or driving agent is employed, such as a compressedy gas, it is suited to the purpose to make use of two 'cof-axial tubes, of which 4the one is located within 'they other and forms a tubular passage with it, the'jfcompound or mass being then supplied through the inner'tube and the compressed gas through the outer tube, i. e. through said'tubular passage, and. in counter-current to the compfound or mass- The temperature of ,the gas is -kept on such a degreejfhat obstruction of the orifice of the inner tube, for instance by separated carboi`when'pi1` .is cracked, is prevented with perfect certainty.

Itf is also possbleto attain an excellent cracking of the hydrocarbon when this latter is supplied under a suitable over-pressure or with the aid of an auxiliary agent 4under pressure; the

[side of'them.

surface of the mass will thereby be enlarged and the transmission of the heat promoted.

If only the thermodynamic circuit is used, or

Vif this circuit and a mechanical conveying means v.

are used together, the hydrocarbon must be introduced into the space or chamber of the apvparatus'at the bottom -of they samesothat it rises within the molten mass contained in the respective chamber. If, however, the thermodynamic circuit is not employed, the direction lof the mass in the' circuit can be reversed.

with the known method the' compoundgcan 'be supplied through the cover of `the respective chamber, and the supply tubejoan be straight down to its orifice, where there are provided, on im the bottom of the chamber, curvedy guide members by which vthe 'direction of the mass is changed byv about 180?, or the supply tube itself canbe bent byabout 180. near its orifice so that the mass assumes a corresponding other direction 'when it escapes from the `said tube. The freshly supplied mass is also in these cases driven upwardly within lthe molten mass already contained in the respective chamber.

It, however, is advantageous to insert the supply tube into the apparatus, or `autoclave respectively, at' orv near the bottom thereof, because in this case only a short piece of vsaid tube lies in the moltenmass and only little heat can pass over to the mass in the supply tube before its escape therefrom. If an auxiliaryagent under pressure (compressed gas) is used and the two tubes are arranged coaxially in the manner already described (the compound passing through theirmer tube and the gas under pressure through the outer one), it is possible to prevent any heating of the freshly supplied mass prior to its entering into the already molten mass, and it is in this case possible to make use of dispersing nozzles permitting a very line distribution, but getpreferably in such a way that that place ofthe autoclave where the/'supply tube is connected up toit lies remote from the heating means and out- Another constructlonal development 'of the apparatus consists in making the device supplying the compound to the autoclave exchangeable, or

detachable respectively, in such a manner, that `it can be taken out of the autoclave without the necessity of depriving the latter of its pressure or making any other change at it. This is attained. according to the invention, by arranging `the supply tube tightly and slidably in a hollow needle so that the individual jets push upon one another and are very ilnelyA atomized thereby. In the hollow cylindersurrounding the spindle or needle a correspondingly shaped conical tight` ening face is provided against which the needle is pressed when it is in its working position. v

In `order to render it possible to clean and exchange said tightening face, the hollow cylinder can be arranged in another hollow cylinder of suitable size which is and remains connected with the autoclave whenv the supply needle and the hollow cylinder surrounding it are exchanged, and which can close the autoclave as it is provided with a separate shutting-oi! .member which is closed before the 'inner cylinder `is 'withdrawn from the outer one.

" It is also possible to arrange two or moresupply devices in one autoclave and to work alternatelywith the one and the other.\while that supply de- .which is useless 'at the time 4being 1 8, ex-

cl'ianged so that nointerruption of the service tfa'lresplace y w If ,the lower part of the pressure vessel is notv subjected to heating it'is possible to arrange in that lower parta device for supplying and for withdrawing the molten mass, so that it is no more, as hitherto, necessary to lift the entire autoclave out of the furnace and tilt it.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example on the accompanying -dr'awings on which Figure 1 is a vertical section through a device or an apparatus designed according to this invention. Figure 2 shows a detail Adrawn to an enlargedscale. Flgure 3 isa vertical section through a `modified apparatus, and the Figures 4-11 show some more modiiications, all as fully described hereinafter.

Referring `to Fig. 1,"1 denotes the heating space and 2 the supply device which is designed as a jet, apparatus,` as is the case also in the constructional forms shownin Figs. 3-7. 3- denotes the treating space, and 4 is a tube connectingthe spaces 3 and 1 with one another. 5 denotes the heating means provided in the heating space or furnace, 6 denotes a passage for supplying an auxiliary conveyingagent under pressure, and 'l is the pipe through which the liquid substance to be treated is introduced into the apparatus.

8 isanoblique plate by which the separation of the molten mass'from the treated or, may be, not suiiiciently treated liquid is promoted. 9denotesthe inner surface of the chamber 3, l a sieve located betweenl this chamber and the iet apparatus 2 and supporting a filling material, as

shown, and 13 is anothersieve located just above the oblique plate 8. The mixture passes through the meshes offthis sieve into the uppermost part of the vessel 3 in whichthe molten mass separates from the specifically lighter components of the and gets downzuponthe plate 8 from .more in detail and drawn on an enlarged scale 24 and the lower, enlarged part of the tube or screwed, the plug 24 can be which it passes into the tube 4 and back to the chamber 1, whereas the heated oil and. may be, also the conveying agent under pressure passes away through the branch 12.

InFig.2thepeandthepi1` e 'lof1l"ig.1l

are combinedwith each other, that is to say, the

oil pipe 15 is surrounded with the pipe 18 through which the auxiliary conveying agent is supplied. The end of the pipe 16 istapering and there are in it a groove having the shape of a few threads of a screw so that the oil carried along with, and away by, the respective agent is very thoroughly whirled through and atomized. V

-Another combination of the two tubes is shown in Fig. 8, in which 17 denotes a needle-like inner tube through which the oil is supplied, and 21 denotes a sleeve-like tube forming between itself and the tube or needle 17 a tubular space through which the auxiliary conveying and atomizing agent is supplied. The needle 17 is pointed at its free end 19 and thereare in this pointed end a few channels 20 which first diverge and then converge. The diverging channels communicate with the bore 18 of the needle l'l, and the tubular 100 space between the members 17 and 21 lcommimicates with a channel 23 through which the respective auxiliary .agent is supplied.v The needle 17 passes through thev transverse bore of a plug sleeve 21 serves as casing for said plug. This casing-forming part and the plug form together a cock,and when the needle 17 is drawn out of the sleeve and casingin downward direction. after the stuing box stopper 25 has beenun- 110 turned whereby the "cock'will be closed.v ,f

In F13. 9 the members 17,'21, 24 5nd 25 are practicauy the same as in rig. s, but not the member 21 is inserted into the wall' 31', but a 115 separate tubular and sleeve-like part 28 is inserted into said wall, andthe lower end of this part -forms also a casing for a-plug 24. the bore of which`is so large that both members 17 and 21 can extend through it, as shown. When they are withdrawn, the plug 24* is closed. The sleeve 21 is vprovided with a separate head 27 of conical shape, and a packing ring 28 is provided with this head and the sleeve, The head 27 is kept in proper position upon the sleeveby an annular projection 29 into which it is inserted.

Figure 3 is distinguished from Fig. -1 practically chiey bythe chamber 1 and the burner 5* being located horizontally instead of vertically. 'I'he members 2, 8 and 7 require no detailed de- 130 scription in view of what has been described with respect to Fig. 1.' It is, however. to be seen from Fig. 3 that all spaces of the apparatus are iilled with the molten salt or metal. The arrows indicate the direction in` which the rrespective sub- 135 stance is driven through the apparatus. f

Reverting to Fig. 8, a plan-view of the conical head 19 of the needle'17V is shown in Fig. 10 and drawn to` a greatly enlarged scale. 35 denotes the 140 diverging channels which communicate at their inner ends with the bore 18 (Fig. 8), and ,34 denotes the converging grooves on the conical top face.-

Concerning the manner of yoperation oi' the 145' constructional forms shownin 1 and 3. the circulating molten substance, which is continuallyheated in thechamher l'by the burner 5 is, in the upper part of the apparatus, cooled down by the liquid introduced through the Dive 7, in 150 Leganes' consequence whereof the cooled part of the subsuch a one Vmaybe used,1if desired, but the constructionalformsshown inFigs. 4 and 5 cannot do without a separate agent for the purpose mentioned, as will be dealt with more fully'when describingthese modifications in detail.

Reverting to Fig. 8 I still mention thatwhen the needle is to be withdrawn it isy withdrawn .for the rst only so far that its pointed top lies just below the plug 24. Then this plug is turned so as to close the cock, and now the needle is completely removed from thedevice. If the construction is accurately that shown in Fig.8, viz. with the tubular channel 22, gas under pressure may be introduced through the branch 23 while the needle is withdrawn so that the molten mass is prevented from entering into the space above the needle. If the device has n'o such tubular space, the molten mass will fill the space above the needle when this is being withdrawn, and is later on forced back into the apparatus when the needle is re-introduced into the device, the needle acting then like a pistorl and the sleeve 21 like a cylinder.

AllthisistruealsoofFigure9which,asre gards the just-mentioned points, can certainly tion. The only point requiring particular mentioning is that that only the plug 24 need be e turned when only the needle 17 is to be removed, and that only the plug 24 need be turned when the whole injection device is to be removed.

In Fig. 4 the chamber 3 is formed by a vertical tube 14 arranged centrically in the chamber 1, and the vessel forming this chamber is located in a furnace in which it is heated on all sides by the burner pipe 5.' The liquid is introduced through the pipe 7 and the auxiliary agent through the pipe 6. Both pass through nozzles 2'l whereby the mixture is propelled in a circuit, as indicated by the arrows.

In Fig. 5 the arrangement of the parts is the inverse, in that the heating takes place in the centre of the apparatus and the tube 14 which isconsiderably larger than in Fig. 4 is located between the outer wall of the heating tube and as shown. There are in this case preferably at least two 'nozzles or sets of nozzles 2l, but also more than two may be used in order to obtain a possibly uniform circulation up and down in the circuit which is that indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 resembles Fig. 4, but thereis this diference that the supply of the liquid to be treated and the auxiliary propelling agent takes place not from above. b'ut from below. There are in this case Atwo oppositely located supply pipes, or sets of pipes, which are considerably longer than in Fig. 4 in thatl they must extend nearly tothe bottom of the apparatus, as shown. The same relation exists between the Figs. 5` and 7. 'Ie'here are in bothcases (Figs. 6 and 7) provided hollow semicircular guide members by whichV the direction of the mixture of the liquid and the gas issuing forth from the pipes 6* is reversed. as is at 'the sameytime the direction of the molten mass propelledA by the respective auxiliary agent.

propelling agent passing through the tubular be understood withoutia more detailed descripthe inner wall of the casing enclosing all parts,

With respect to Fig.' 9 I emphasize the point that this constructional form renders it possible to provide the tube 21'with a separately manufactured pointed head suchas 24 which cannow be made `of another material than the tuba-viz. of a high-grade material having a very great natural hardness which is notin theleast affected even by `part`icularly-high temperatures. vThe top member 24 isi-held fastfvery firmly between the needle 17 andthe tube `2l on the one side and the `sleeve 26 on the other side. Cutting a screwthread into it or anyvsiniilar-working procedure is notrequisite.- The tube 21 andthe sleeve 26 can be manufactured, however, from an easily workable material, also if the liquid is vsupplied under a very high pressure, say about [300 atm. This-high pressure becomes active only in the needle 17 and in the top member 27, the auxiliary spaces between -the parts 17 and 21, and 21 and 26, may have a lower pressure. The cylindrical member 14, Figs. 4 and 6, as well as 14, Figs. 5 and 7, consists preferably of a refractory material or the like,.whi ch is a possibly bad conductor of heat; this is useful for pro-y moting the movement of the molten mass in and through' the circuit.

Concerning, nally, Fig. 11, this shows a'valve 34l arranged'in a member 30 attached tothe bottom 31 of theapparatus and provided witlipa m5 sages 32 and 33. The passage 32 can be closed by said valve, it is'open as long as the molten mass is introduced into the apparatus, and closed when this latter has been filled, and it is again opened when the apparatus is to be emptied. 1,10 I claim: l

1. An apparatus for cracking hy in a metal bath, comprising, in 'eombinatiom'f a chamber adapted to receive the metal that is to ns form thebath; means for heating that metal and to keep it in melted/state; another chamber so arranged relatively to the first-mentioned cham- .ber as tobe adapted to receive the melted metal from this chamber; a'jet apparatus located beno tween said ychambers and having its delivery opening directed towards the said mst-mentioned chamber: and ay circuit-establishing connection between th'at'end of the `first-mentioned chamber where" the cracked hydrocarbon and the 12| liquid metal separatefrom one another and that end where the continually supplied fresh hydrocarbon is entering the liquid metal.

2. 'Ihe method of cracking hydrocarbons in a metal bath, consisting in introducing the hydrow carbon to be cracked into the metal bath at one end thereof in the form of a Jet;.-withdrawi'ng thev cracked hydrocarbon from the metal bath at the other end thereof; withdrawing ,also the liquid metal at the place where it and the cracked 135 hydrocarbon separate from one another; and driving 'it by the kinetic energy of the continually Ksupplied fresh hydrocarbon back to the place where this hydrocarbon entersinto the bath.

3. The 'method of cracking hydrocarbons in a1 metal bath, lconsisting in introducing the hydrocarbon to be cracked into the metal vbath at the,- lower portion thereof in the form of a jet; with" drawing the cracked hydrocarbon from the metal bath at the upper portion thereof; withdrawing 145 l 4 l :,ofumuiar metal bath. consisting in introducing the hydrocarbon tobe cracked into the metal bath 'at one end thereoi' in the form of a iet; and introducing at the same end also a permanent gas also in the form of a jet, said *.two jets combined having a kinetic energy adapted to: drive the liquid metal to the opposite end oi the bath; withdrawing the cracked hydrocarbon from the metal bath at said vcarbon to be cracked into the metal bath at one end thereof in the form of a Jet and using the kinetic energy of the hydrocarbon as means for driving the liquid metal of the bath to the other kend thereof and through a circuit commencing at said other end and terminating nearV the place where the continually supplied hydrocarbon is introduced into the metal bath; withdrawing thel cracked hydrocarbon at 'the said other end of the metal bath and withdrawing at the same place also the liquid metal and driving it outside of the bath into and through said circuit, substantially as set forth.

fr'mszonore.` 

